The 2026 Free Agency Thread

[Bulldog]

Every team cares about risk/reward in talent acquisition. The cost/benefit analysis on Aiyuk is different for us because of Daniel’s. Aiyuk wouldn’t even be an option for us with his head case baggage if he wasn’t essentially Jayden’s best friend. That’s a unique situation and he just happens to have been a 49er. That’s the reason the risk/reward ratio on him is interesting for this team specifically.

But yes they’ve been reluctant to open the wallet in general the past few years, I’ve posted on it a lot. That isn’t the main reason Aiyuk is an option for us right now though. It’s just a part of the equation.

Don't know whether you follow hockey at all but with the Caps there was the same thought process with Evgeny Kuznetsov. After he started to go off the rails the team thought because he was a close friend of Ovechkin's that Ovechkin would help him steer back onto the right course but instead he further declined and had to be traded in the end result.

Guys are who they are. At age 28 or 29 these players are not 12 year olds that haven't imprinted yet.

 

[NickyJ]

Well, 5+ hours in today and NOTHING.

Apparently we are going to be waiting until at least tomorrow to hear anything new.

BMitch and Finlay, who I usually forget exist, are dead to me for saying 'something big in an hour' four hours ago.

 

[Conn]

 

[Bulldog]

Finlay is really annoying to me for some reason. Can't listen to that show for more than 15-20 minutes.

 

[Conn]

Don't know whether you follow hockey at all but with the Caps there was the same thought process with Evgeny Kuznetsov. After he started to go off the rails the team thought because he was a close friend of Ovechkin's that Ovechkin would help him steer back onto the right course but instead he further declined and had to be traded in the end result.

Guys are who they are. At age 28 or 29 these players are not 12 year olds that haven't imprinted yet.

Plenty of WR’s lose it, then keep their shit together for a year or two in a new location, and then lose it again. It’s a weird position with lots of asshole egos. It’s a staple of these talented journeyman types, you don’t build around them you just exploit them while you can justify it.

The injuries with Aiyuk and his refusal to follow 49ers rehab protocols…that’s all way more concerning than his head case stuff. They’ll figure that out and dump him or not when needed, if he’s worth rostering. But his injuries are serious.

 

[Conn]

BMitch and Finlay, who I usually forget exist, are dead to me for saying 'something big in an hour' four hours ago.

To be fair I think they were rejected by Doubs not long after that. That was pretty big

 

[Higskin]

Finlay is really annoying to me for some reason. Can't listen to that show for more than 15-20 minutes.

For sure, he's admitedly A.D.D. and can't stay on topic

 

[Bulldog]

So, only ex-49ers agents and players that already know him can deal with him?

 

[RWJ]

With Washington not being able to outbid winning teams, it unfortunately tells me all I need to know. DQ and AP are on the hotseat. AP probably gets another season to hire a new HC if things don't turn around this season.

 

[Bulldog]

I think the team had tunnel vision in hiring a new head coach and should have given a defensive coach like MacDonald more of a chance early on in the process.

Ben Johnson was identified by the team as a savior and they acted like it was in the bag and then he chickened out in taking the interview at the last minute.

By that time all of the other coaches of note had jobs and we were left with Quinn and some others and he was the choice of that lot.

But it was not what Peters said in that 'we got the guy we wanted'.

THAT was complete BS.

 

[Solitary Man]

BMitch and Finlay, who I usually forget exist, are dead to me for saying 'something big in an hour' four hours ago.

I believe I was on the treadmill for that. Probably was the rumblings for Doubs. They gotta few things to learn before they can apply for Shefter’s gig. Lol

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Don't know whether you follow hockey at all but with the Caps there was the same thought process with Evgeny Kuznetsov. After he started to go off the rails the team thought because he was a close friend of Ovechkin's that Ovechkin would help him steer back onto the right course but instead he further declined and had to be traded in the end result.

Guys are who they are. At age 28 or 29 these players are not 12 year olds that haven't imprinted yet.

If Kuzy had produced teams tend to overlook player's behavior. He just never made it worth it for them. All that talent wasted, so frustrating.

I always laugh at fans who freak out over the first few days of free agency. Now I find myself being one of them. No news today after learning Devin Lloyd signed for a reasonable price is just so frustrating, as is their plan to go with Alegretti and Coleman on the interior. WTF AP? I'm still in your corner, just as I was for a long time with Scott McLaughlin, but not for long.

 

[NickyJ]

With Washington not being able to outbid winning teams, it unfortunately tells me all I need to know. DQ and AP are on the hotseat. AP probably gets another season to hire a new HC if things don't turn around this season.

I hope not. If this season fails, it's because AP set the team up to fail starting last season. It's one thing to be hurt by a head coach, it's another to work hand in hand with your own handpicked coach and get led by the nose into failure. And that's the charitable version instead of "sucked at acquiring new talent".

 

[Canadian Hog]

Don’t evaluate Peters based on his supposed misses in free agency thus far. The true test of his merit will be how well the likes of Newton, Sainristril, Amos, McCaffrey, Lane, and Magee develop, and if they can make fairly substantial contributions as pros. By the looks of it, we are going to depend on those guys to factor into the overall equation fairly significantly, and if they don’t become who we hope, that is when Peters will wear egg on his face.

 

[BayouBrave86]

Don’t forget about Ben Sinnot!

 

[Bulldog]

Look, it usually comes down to the most obvious factor.

Washington is NOT the top destination for veterans like Mike Evans that want to win a title and are 33 years old.

I think that's a given.

BUT, a lot of these signings are ONLY about the coin. Who has the biggest gold coin to bring to the table.

You don't think Linderbaum went to the Raiders because he wants to win a Super Bowl I hope.

Even with a good draft the Raiders are a long ways away from being a true contender.

If Washington had offered $1M more for any of these players they were after they probably would have signed at least a couple of them.

So, it's a CHOICE.

 

[Commander Wraith]

Every team cares about risk/reward in talent acquisition. The cost/benefit analysis on Aiyuk is different for us because of Daniels. Aiyuk wouldn’t even be an option for us with his head case baggage if he wasn’t essentially Jayden’s best friend. That’s a unique situation and he just happens to have been a 49er. That’s the reason the risk/reward ratio on him is interesting for this team specifically.

But yes they’ve been reluctant to open the wallet in general the past few years, I’ve posted on it a lot. That isn’t the main reason Aiyuk is an option for us right now though. It’s just a part of the equation.

That and he has produced a lot more than other available FAs… (obviously).

 

[Skintime]

Yeah I am more than OK if they sign Jennings and Aiyuk.

Among other things part of the reason why it was comical that Ron wanted to double down on Carolina players was they were mostly a bad to a mediocre team. It's not a model team to take talent from. SF actually is a winner and is a model team.

With a long injury history

 

[Conn]

Hey a RB we can sign that probably won’t have better options to prioritize!

 

[Gooseneck]

Next year's draft is supposed to be real good. Maybe this is a clever ploy to stink next year and restock with inexpensive draft choices in 2027